Public sector layoffs weigh on Canada job market in July

Economy sheds nearly 40,000 jobs in wake of record number of layoffs, unemployment rate edges up

08/09/2013|hrreporter.com|Last Updated: 08/09/2013

OTTAWA — A record number of public sector job losses in July caused Canadian employment to fall by 39,400 from the previous month and the unemployment rate to tick up to 7.2 per cent from 7.1 per cent, Statistics Canada reported on Friday.

Almost all the jobs lost were in services, particularly health care and social assistance, with overall public sector employment down by 74,000 positions.

Employment among youth also fell by a sharp 46,000 and summer employment for high school-aged students hit its lowest level since 1977, the federal agency said.